Ken Hotchkiss, owner of Capital Beer and Tap Room, said his new Capital Hop Shop at 15th and I streets should open in “the next couple of weeks.”

By Carla Meyer

Capital Hop Shop – a new downtown Sacramento beer bar from the owners of Capitol Beer and Tap Room on Fair Oaks Boulevard – is close to opening.

“We are shooting for the next couple of weeks,” said Capitol Beer and Tap Room co-owner Ken Hotchkiss. Outside signage already has been painted on the building at 15th and I streets that previously was home to an auto shop. Unlike Capitol Beer and Tap Room – often shortened to “Cap Tap” by its many devotees – Hop Shop will serve food.

Hotchkiss said the new place will serve “gastropub food” such as chicken wings and meat-and-cheese plates. “Stuff that pairs well with beer.”

This location will not have a bottle shop like the original but will have twice as many taps – or 40 total. Like Capitol Beer and Tap Room, the new spot will feature “an ever-rotating list” of beers, Hotchkiss said.

Capitol Beer and Tap Room is known for its interesting, constantly changing selection of beers from the Sacramento region and beyond. Tuesday’s tap list included offerings from Track 7, New Glory, Sudwerk and Mraz, along with the homage-paying “Kenny M’Fn Hotchkiss” tropical IPA from Rancho Cordova’s Claimstake Brewing.